Kashmir locked down as India bars protests

Indian authorities locked down parts of restive Kashmir yesterday as police fired tear gas at protesters defying a curfew to march against the shooting death of seven civilians.

Separatist leaders had urged the public to march on India's military headquarters in the disputed territory, after seven people were killed and dozens wounded in army fire on Saturday.

Authorities took no chances in a region where protests frequently descend into bloodshed, barricading roads to the key army base with razor wire and armoured vehicles.

A total curfew was imposed in parts of Srinagar, the main city in Muslim-majority Kashmir, to try and curb any unrest.

Mobile internet services were also suspended in some areas, and train services shut down to prevent protesters from massing in numbers.

"Restrictions are in place in some city areas and in Pulwama," inspector general of police Swayam Prakash Pani told AFP, referring to Srinagar and the southern district where Saturday's shooting occurred.

Police fired tear gas to drive back dozens of protesters led by a key separatist leader who tried to reach the base in central Srinagar.

Yasin Malik, chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, was detained by police. Other key separatist leaders were put under house arrest to stop them marshalling other protesters.

Businesses and schools across the divided Himalayan territory -- which is administered by India but also claimed in full by Pakistan -- were closed for a third straight day, with final year school exams delayed.

India's army, which has half a million troops deployed in the region, urged the public to ignore the call to protest and blamed Pakistan for stoking unrest.

"Indian Army strongly condemns this call by Pak(istan) proxies and advises people not to fall prey to such designs of anti-national forces," an army spokesman said in a statement issued late Sunday.

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Kashmir locked down as India bars protests

AFP, Srinagar

Indian authorities locked down parts of restive Kashmir yesterday as police fired tear gas at protesters defying a curfew to march against the shooting death of seven civilians.
Separatist leaders had urged the public to march on Indias military headquarters in the disputed territory, after seven people were killed and dozens wounded in army fire on Saturday.
Authorities took no chances in a region where protests frequently descend into bloodshed, barricading roads to the key army base with razor wire and armoured vehicles.
A total curfew was imposed in parts of Srinagar, the main city in Muslim-majority Kashmir, to try and curb any unrest.
Mobile internet services were also suspended in some areas, and train services shut down to prevent protesters from massing in numbers.
Restrictions are in place in some city areas and in Pulwama, inspector general of police Swayam Prakash Pani told AFP, referring to Srinagar and the southern district where Saturdays shooting occurred.
Police fired tear gas to drive back dozens of protesters led by a key separatist leader who tried to reach the base in central Srinagar.
Yasin Malik, chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, was detained by police. Other key separatist leaders were put under house arrest to stop them marshalling other protesters.
Businesses and schools across the divided Himalayan territory -- which is administered by India but also claimed in full by Pakistan -- were closed for a third straight day, with final year school exams delayed.
Indias army, which has half a million troops deployed in the region, urged the public to ignore the call to protest and blamed Pakistan for stoking unrest.
Indian Army strongly condemns this call by Pak(istan) proxies and advises people not to fall prey to such designs of anti-national forces, an army spokesman said in a statement issued late Sunday.